In VA House race “the Democrat, Jeff Bourne, won in a landslide! Virginia is an important state because it has gone blue in Presidential races for the past 12 years, but thanks to gerrymandering and voter ID laws, 2/3 of the House is Republican. Right now there are 8 districts that Hillary Clinton won in November that currently have no Democrat challenger in this year’s House race!” https://theroseresistance.com/feed#post0

NEW ITEMS REQUIRING ACTION in no particular order – there are a lot, but that’s because I know that people are interested in different things. Pick the issue that you’re most concerned about, and take action.

The White House comment line is apparently up and running again. Call and give your opinion: 202-456-1111 (and program it into your phone).

Disapproval for 45 and the GOP-controlled Congress grows, and yet both claim to have a mandate. This fuels voter apathy. Project1464 recommends that we address this problem by supporting Raked Choice voting. “RCV allows voters torank candidates from their favorite to least favorite. Those with the fewest votes are ruled out and their votes go to the voters’ other picks. This means voters vote for rather than againstcandidates because there is no fear of splitting the vote. Winners are elected by earning the greatest consensus, so nastiness does not pay! Ranked choice voting is also sometimes called “instant-runoff voting” — in other words, every candidate is essentially in a runoff situation until someone wins, and that someone is the person most liked by the most voters. This electoral system is already being used in other democratic countries, and even parts of the United States.” (https://www.project1461.org) Also see http://www.fairvote.org/rcv#rcvbenefits Vermont does not have RCV, but some areas in the state await implementation. Note: Howard Dean favors RCV https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/03/us/maine-ranked-choice-voting.html

Action: Contact your state and local representatives about implementing RCV (lookup or Text your zip code to 520-200-2223 and you will receive a text with the phone numbers of your federal and local government legislators)

Script: I’m a constituent of ___ and I am concerned that current voting practices mean that elected officials don’t reflect the majority of the population. I’m asking ___ to support Ranked Choice Voting, which allows voters torank candidates from their favorite to least favorite. Those with the fewest votes are ruled out and their votes go to the voters’ other picks. This means winners are elected by earning the greatest consensus. Thank you.”

Script: I’m calling to ask ___ to consider the needs of students, journalists, consumers, and businesses as well as all those who use the internet for music, movies, games, social media and news. Restriction of internet neutrality would inhibit access to Americans that rely on this freedom as a way of life. (from https://twitter.com/decaro_nick/status/833909802040381442)

Glenn McCoy posted a cartoon recasting Ruby Bridges as Betsy DeVos as she was escorted into school in Normal Rockwell’s iconic portrait. http://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/cartoon-comparing-betsy-devos-ruby-bridges-sparks-backlash-n721531 Why this is offensive: McCoy’s cartoon has substituted the “n-word” in the cartoon with the word “conservative.” “They are not comparable!!!! Race is an immutable quality; conservatism, a choice. The “n-” is the most insensitive word today, “conservative” is not even pejorative. When “conservative” is meant critically, it is in part aimed at the racial insensitivity of some modern conservatives. Ruby Bridges was a child when this happened. She was a focal point of years of baseless, bigoted hatred, w/in a racist, Jim Crow society. Betsy Devos is an adult. Criticism of her is based on years of controversial stances that she has taken. Violence is not justified, but Ruby had literally done NOTHING WRONG. Betsy, agree or disagree, is worthy of (peaceful) protest against her stances. DeVos is drawn small, as if she were a powerless child. Couldn’t be further from the truth. Devos is the Sec of DoEd. That’s powerful! As Sec of DoEd, Devos has some power to stop the very type of discrimination – school segregation – that Ruby Bridges was trying to end! DeVos is a multimillionaire who bought her way to a cabinet position. The very opposite of a child who must be protected by armed guards. This is yet another manifestation of conservative embrace of “victim” mentality. BTW, the problem with DeVos was not conservatism. It was her purchase of her position & her ignorance of the basics of education policy. BC any education expert will tell you that the DoED was becoming conservative enough under the Obama administration. DeVos wasn’t assaulted. Nothing was thrown at her. She was briefly deterred from entering a building. She was confronted with signs. Ruby Bridges stands for the courage of a child in the face of opposition to human decency. McCoy personally insulted HER… a woman who is still alive, who has children & grandchildren who, for all McCoy knows, go to the public schools under DeVos’s control.” From https://twitter.com/AltEEOB/status/831677990882930688

Action: Email the artist explaining why his cartoon was a grotesque perversion of history. glen@glenmccoy.com

Action: Contact the local Normal Rockwell Museum asking them to denounce this use of Rockwell’s image: http://www.normanrockwellvt.com/contact.htm or Toll-Free 1-877-773-6095. Script: Are you aware of the Glen McCoy cartoon recasting Ruby Bridges as Betsy DeVos? Do you think that Norman Rockwell would support this grotesque perversion of his beautiful portrait? DeVos is a billionaire adult who was peacefully protested for her choices. Bridges was a little girl verbally assaulted and nearly denied an education for the color of her skin color. ‘Conservative’ isn’t a bad word. The ‘n-word’ is. Equating the two is a horrible distortion of history and Rockwell’s vision. I think you should issue a statement denouncing Glen McCoy’s cartoon.

Email: Disney CEO, Robert Iger a.iger@disney.comText: Copy and paste, “Disney’s brand is as American as mom and apple pie. That’s why I’m writing as a longtime fan to ask you to make a public statement against djt’s Muslim ban in any form. America’s strength is our diversity. Please speak out publicly against discrimination. Jasmine and Aladdin are counting on you.”

Or tweet him: @disney #BobIger As a key advisor to djt, please speak out against a Muslim ban in any form. #WallofUs #CEOsAgainstTheBan

Sanders Local office 802-862-0697 https://www.sanders.senate.gov/contact/commentScript: I’m a constituent of the senator. I would like the senator to support S.27, for an independent commission to examine and report on the facts regarding the extent of Russian official and unofficial cyber operations and other attempts to interfere in the 2016 United States national election, and for other purposes. Thank you.

Leahy: Local office 802-863-2525 https://www.leahy.senate.gov/contact/Script: I’m a constituent of the senator. I would like to thank the senator for asking Sessions to recuse himself from an investigation into Trump’s ties to Russia and for requesting an independent prosecutor. I want him to know that I support S.27, for an independent commission to examine and report on the facts regarding the extent of Russian official and unofficial cyber operations and other attempts to interfere in the 2016 United States national election, and for other purposes. Thank you.

45’s administration drafted a proposal to have the National Guard round up immigrants. They’re now claiming that it was only a draft and was rejected, but this is part of their pattern: They let a plan leak, refuse to comment on it prior to publication, then deny it once the media storm erupts. And “proposed plans” keep turning into action. We need to be proactive and get in front of this. https://www.apnews.com/5508111d59554a33be8001bdac4ef830

Action: Contact Governor Phil Scott 802 828-3333 or http://governor.vermont.gov/contact-us/messageScript: I am one of the governor’s constituents in Vermont and I’m very disturbed with Trump’s leaked proposal to use the National Guard to round up immigrants. It is my understanding that any use of the National Guard would have to be approved by the governor. I’m asking the governor to refuse to grant his permission for this purpose and to issue a statement denouncing the leaked proposal. Thank you.

Action: Contact Governor Phil Scott 802 828-3333 or http://governor.vermont.gov/contact-us/messageScript: I’m [NAME], from [CITY, ZIP CODE]. I’m calling because I’m disturbed by the recent wave of bills aimed at silencing protesters. Trump’s allies are attacking a fundamental American right. And they’re putting people trying to exercise that right at risk. None of our state legislators have joined in this effort yet, and we need to keep it that way. Please tell the Governor to publicly commit to vetoing any legislation that threatens protesters and our rights. (from http://www.weekly-resistance.online/index.html)

“The 2017 U.S. Women’s Open is being held at Donald Trump’s New Jersey golf resort. This event began in 1946 and is the most prestigious women’s golf event. So what? Well, Trump could make bank from this event because he refuses to separate from his assets. Just like the #boycott Trump campaign, we need to hit him where it hurts. And golf would hit him especially hard. So let’s brush up on our golf facts: (this and the following from https://www.wall-of-us.org)

The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) is one of the world’s long-standing women’s sports organizations and has a nearly 70 year history.

The Women’s Open is organized by the US Golf Association (USGA), not the LPGA.

In October two senators asked for the tournament to be moved given Trump’s offensive comments about women, but to no avail.

Here is the general message (too long for a tweet): “We are disappointed that the US Golf Association is holding the Women’s Open at Donald Trump’s resort. The LPGA has a nearly 70 year history and is one of the world’s premier women’s professional sports organizations. Donald Trump has consistently disrespected women. By holding the Women’s Open at his resort, the USGA is disrespecting women too.”

Action: While this tour is being planned by the USGA the LPGA has not made any public statement addressing Trump’s disrespect towards women. Here is theLPGA site, along with social links and contact information. Please let them know that all-of-us expect them to stand with women. Here is the general message: “We are disappointed that the Ladies Professional Golf Association has not made a public statement denouncing Donald Trump’s offensive comments about women. The LPGA has also not asked the USGA to move the Women’s Open to another location. We expect more from an organization with a long and proud history of standing with women.”

“Republicans in Congress are ramming through fast-tracked legislation (H.J. Res. 66) that would block states like California, Oregon, Maryland, Illinois, and Connecticut from helping their citizens save money for retirement. The Department of Labor issued a legal ruling last year giving states the OK to provide a new savings option to workers who are not offered a 401(k) or other retirement plan at their job. Given how unprepared most Americans are for retirement, this made perfect sense — workers should have more opportunities to save and retire with dignity, not fewer. But Republicans disagree — in order to keep their Wall Street benefactors fat, happy, and shielded from competition, they are pushing legislation that would rescind the Labor Department regulation. The legislation has passed the House and will likely be considered in the Senate shortly.” (this and the following from https://www.indivisibleguide.com)

Script: Good morning/afternoon! Can you let me know the [Senator’s/Representative’s] position on H.J.Res. 66, the Congressional Review Act resolution that would rescind the Labor Department’s rule on state retirement plans?

OPTION 1: OPPOSES THE RESOLUTION [MEANING THEY SUPPORT THE STATE RETIREMENT PLANS]
Staffer: Thank you for calling! Senator/Representative Bob opposes the resolution.
Caller: That’s great! I’m calling to say that if [Senator/Representative] Bob truly believes, as I do, that there is a retirement savings crisis, then [he/she] should do everything [he/she] can to stop Congress and the Trump Administration from blocking state retirement plans. This means making public statements standing with the millions of Americans poised to benefit from these state programs and calling out the Wall Street special interests that are trying to shield themselves from competition.
I’m happy to hear the [Senator/Representative] opposes H.J.Res. 66. Will [he/she] commit to voting against this resolution if it comes up for a vote?
OPTION 2: SUPPORTS THE RESOLUTION [MEANING THEY OPPOSE THE STATE RETIREMENT PLANS]
Staffer: Thank you for calling! Senator/Representative Bob supports the resolution.
Caller: That’s terrible. What that means is [Senator/Representative] Bob is choosing to enrich Wall Street special interests over [his/her] hard-working constituents trying to save for retirement. States should have the right to help their OWN citizens save their OWN money for retirement. The alternative is more seniors living in poverty and relying on public assistance. There is a retirement crisis in America: nearly one-half of all private sector workers are not offered a retirement plan at work. We need to make sure that anyone who wants to save for his or her retirement can do so. These state programs would expand access to retirement plans so that the millions of hard-working Americans currently left behind can start saving. Why would [Senator/Representative] Bob want to block these state plans?
Staffer: But the Labor Department rule exempts state retirement plans from important consumer protections and would create an unworkable patchwork system, with each state having their own plan.
Caller: That’s wrong. The rule simply clarifies that employers who enroll their workers in the state’s retirement plan will not face any administrative or legal burden. The state itself is taking on those responsibilities since small business owners should be able to focus exclusively on running their business without sacrificing their workers’ retirement security. Each state has the right to set up its own plan if it so chooses. Would [Senator/Representative] Bob prefer that the federal government block states from making their own decisions, leaving millions of Americans left without a way to save for retirement?
OPTION 3: DODGES / HAS NO POSITION
Staffer: Thank you for calling! I don’t know about state retirement plans or H.J.Res. 66, but I’m happy to take down your concerns.
Caller: That’s disappointing to hear–this is a very important issue for millions of Americans, myself included. By trying to block state retirement plans, Congress is choosing to enrich Wall Street special interests over [Senator/Representative] Bob’s hard-working constituents trying to save for retirement. States should have the right to help their OWN citizens save their OWN money for retirement. The alternative is more seniors living in poverty and relying on public assistance. There is a retirement crisis in America. Did you know that nearly one-half of all private sector workers are not offered a retirement plan at work?
Staffer: I didn’t know that but I’m happy to take down your concerns.
Caller: Here’s my concern: We need to make sure that anyone who wants to save for his or her retirement can do so. These state programs would expand access to retirement plans so that the millions of hard-working Americans currently left behind can start saving. I expect [Senator/Representative] Bob will represent [his/her] constituents, like me, and not Wall Street. I expect [Senator/Representative] Bob to oppose H.J.Res. 66.
Will [Senator/Representative] Bob vote against this attempt to block state retirement plans?
Staffer: I will certainly pass on your concerns to the Senator/Representative.
Caller: Please do, and please take down my contact information to let me know when the [Senator/Representative] has made up his mind. I’m eager to hear what [he/she] decides.